more wishing chair stories

8/3/2019 More Wishing Chair Stories

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Wishing Chair - 03

More Wishing Chair Stories

ByEnid Blyton

ContentsTHE WITCH'S CATTHE DEAR-ME GOBLINTHE ADVENTURE OF THE GREEN ENCHANTERPETER'S OWN ADVENTURETHE OLD, OLD MANTOPSY-TURVY LANDTHE CHAIR RUNS AWAY AGAINTHE LAND OF SCALLY WAGSTHE PRINCE'S SPELLSTHE LAST ADVENTURE OF ALLHOME FOR HALF-TERMCREE-EE-EAKAN ADVENTUROUS NIGHTLAND OF WISHESSANTA GLAUS AND THE WISHING-CHAIR 1MORE ABOUT THE WISHING-CHAIR 1THE END OF THE ADVENTURE 1

ITHE WITCH'S CATONE afternoon Mollie and Peter were talking to Chinky the pixie in their playroom. Mollie was sitting in themagic chair, knitting as she talked. She was making a warm scarf for Chinky, who often used to go out atnight and talk to the fairies in the garden. It was still very cold, and Mollie was afraid he would get a chill.Peter and Chinky were not looking at Mollie at all - and then a dreadful thing happened! The chair grew itsred wings all of a sudden, spread them out, and flew straight out of the open door! Yes - with Mollie in it,all alone! Peter and Chinky gave a shout of dismay, and rushed after it. They were too late - the chair roseover the trees, and the last they saw of Mollie was her pale anxious face looking over the arm at them."I say! The chair oughtn't to do that!" said Peter. "Now what are we to do?""We can't do anything," said Chinky. "We must just hope that the chair comes back safely, that's all."


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Mollie had the surprise of her life when the chair rose up so suddenly. She wondered where in the world itwould take her to. It flew a long way, and when it came down Mollie saw that a very thick dark wood laybeneath her1

Mollic peeped into the cottage, and inside she saw an old witch.

The chair squeezed its way through the trees, and Mollie crouched down in the chair, for the branchesscratched against her face. At last she was on firm ground again, and she jumped off the chair to seewhere she was. She saw, not far off, a beautiful little cottage, and to her surprise, there were pink and redroses out all around it - which was very astonishing, for it was only the month of February."Perhaps a fairy lives there," thought Mollie, and she went up to the cottage.The door was shut, but therewas a light in the window. Mollie thought she had better peep into the cottage and just see who lived therebefore she knocked at the door. So she did - and inside she saw an old witch, standing before a curiousfire whose flames were bright purple, stirring something in a big green pot."Ooh!" thought Mollie. "It's a witch. I don't think I'll go in'"Suddenly the witch looked up - and she saw Mollie peeping in. In a trice, she threw down the ladle shewas using and ran to the door."What are you spying on me for?" she shouted, in such a rage that her face went red as a sunset. "Comehere! Let me see who you are! If you are a spy, I'll soon deal with you!""But I'm not!" said poor Mollie. She thought she had better run away, so she turned - but the witch caughthold of the sleeve of her frock."You go indoors," she said, and pushed Mollie into the cottage. She slammed the door and went back toher green pot, which was now singing a curious tune to itself, and puffing out pale yellow steam."Go and help the cat to make my bed," ordered the witch. "I won't have you peeping round whilst I makethis spell!"Mollie looked round for the cat. There was one in the corner, busily washing up some dishes in the sink. Itwas a black cat, but its eyes were as blue as forget-me-nots. How strange!The cat put down the tea-cloth and ran into the next room. There was a bed there, and the two set to workto make it. As they were in the middle of it, the witch called sharply to the cat:"Puss! Come here a minute! I need your help."The cat at once ran to her - and Mollie took the chance to look round. She saw that the bedroom windowwas open. Good! It wouldn't take her long to slip out of it and run back to her chair!She climbed out - but in doing so she knocked over a big vase on the window-sill. Crash! The witch atonce

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guessed what was happening. She rushed into the bedroom, and tried to get hold of Mollie's leg - but shewas too late! Mollie was running between the trees!"Cat! Chase her! Scratch her! Bring her back at once!" yelled the witch.The blue-eyed cat at once leapt out of the window and rushed after Mollie. How they ran! Mollie reachedthe wishing-chair, jumped into it, and cried, "Home, quickly!"It rose up - but the cat gave an enormous leap and jumped on to one arm of the chair. Mollie tried to pushit off, but it dug its claws into the arm, and wouldn't leave go."You horrid creature!" said the little girl, almost in tears. "Get off my chair!"But the cat wouldn't move. The chair rose higher and higher. Mollie wondered what she should do if thecat flew at her - but it didn't. It crawled down into the chair, hid behind a cushion there, and seemed to goto sleep!


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After a while Mollie saw that she was near her own garden. She was glad. The chair went down to theplayroom, and Peter and Chinky rushed out excitedly. Peter hugged Mollie, and so did Chinky. They hadbeen so worried about her.Mollie told them her adventure. "And the funny thing is," she said, "the witch's cat is still in the chair! Hedidn't scratch me - he hid behind the cushion!"Chinky ran to the chair and lifted up the cushion - yes, there was the cat! It opened its great blue eyesand looked at Chinky.

The pixie stared hard at it. Then he ran his hands over the cat's sleek back, and shouted in surprise."Come here, children, and feel! This isn't a proper witch's cat! Can you feel these bumps on its back?"Sure enough, Peter and Mollie could quite well feel two little bumps there."This cat was a fairy once," said Chinky, in excitement. "You can always tell by feeling along the back. Ifthere are two bumps there, you know that that was where the wings of the fairy grew, once upon a time. Isay! I wonder who this fairy was!""Can't we change the cat back into its right shape?" asked Peter, in great excitement.Both children poured zcater on the silent eat, zihilst Chinky chanted a string of strange zrords."I'll try!" said clever Chinky. He drew a chalk circle on the floor, and then put a chalk square outside that.He stood between the circle and the square, and put the cat in the middle. Then he told the children topour water on the cat whilst he recited some magic words.

41Peter got a jug of water, and Mollie got a vase. Both children poured water on the silent cat, whilst Chinkychanted a string of strange words.And then a most peculiar thing happened! The cat grew larger - and larger. The bumps on its back brokeout into a pair of bright blue wings. The cat stood upright on its hind legs - and suddenly the whole of theblack fur peeled away and fell off - and inside was the most beautiful fairy that the children had ever imag-ined!He had the brightest blue eyes, and shining golden hair, and he smiled in delight at Chinky."Thank you!" he said. "I am Prince Merry, brother to the Princess Sylfai. The witch caught me andchanged me into a cat at the same time as she caught my lovely sister. She sold her to the Green En-chanter, and she is still a prisoner.""Oh, your highness!" cried Chinky, bowing low before the beautiful prince. "It is such an honour to havereturned you to your right shape. What a good thing Mollie flew to the witch's house!""It certainly was!" said Prince Merry. "I suddenly saw she had a wishing-chair out in the wood, though, ofcourse, the witch didn't know that! I was determined to come with her in the magic chair - but I only justmanaged it! It is the first time I have had a chance to escape from the witch!""I wish we could rescue your sister, the Princess!" cried Peter."That would be splendid!" said the Prince. "If we only could! But before we can get to the hill on which theGreen Enchanter lives, we have to get a map to find it -and there is only one map in the world that showstheEnchanter's Hill.""Who has it?" asked Chinky excitedly."The Dear-Me Goblin has it," said Merry. "He lives in the caves of the Golden Hill.""Then we'll go there the very next time the chair grows wings!" shouted Chinky, Mollie, and Peter.IITHE DEAR-ME GOBLINPRINCE MERRY lived with Chinky in the playroom, waiting for the chair to grow its wings again. Chinkymade himself Merry's servant, and did everything for him gladly and proudly. Peter and Mollie thoughtthey were very lucky children - to have a wishing-chair of their own, a pixie for a friend, and a fairy princeliving in their playroom. Nobody would believe it if they told the story of their adventures.


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It was a whole week before the chair grew its red wings. It was one evening after tea, when Peter, Mollie,Chinky, and the Prince were sitting round the playroom fire, having a game of snap. All four had cards infront of them, when suddenly a draught blew the whole lot together!"I say! Is the window open?" cried Peter, jumping up. But it wasn't. He couldn't think where the draughtcame

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from when he suddenly saw that it was the chair, flapping its red wings again! Of course! They made thewind that blew the cards together!"Look!" cried Peter excitedly. "The chair's ready again! Come on! Is there room for us all?""No," said Chinky, "but the Prince has wings. So he can fly beside us. Come on - get in! I say, though-hadn't we better take a rug? It's an awfully cold night."The children pulled a rug from the sofa, and then they and the pixie climbed in the chair, wrapping the rugclosely round them. The prince opened the door, and the chair flew out at once. Merry followed it, andheld on to one of the arms as he flew, so that he should not miss the way.The Prince opened the door, and the chair flew out at once."I told the chair to go to the Dear-Me Goblin's cave," said Chinky. "I hope it knows the way."It did! It flew to a hill that looked dark and lonely in the starlit night; but as soon as the chair had flown in-side a big cave, and come to earth there, the children exclaimed in delight. The inside of the cave shonewith a golden light, though there was no lamp of any sort to be seen."That's why it's called the Golden Hill," said Merry. "The whole of the hill shines like gold inside. So plentyof goblins live here because they are mean fellows, you know, and are only too pleased to live in a hillwhere they do not need to buy candles by which to see!"The children and Chinky explored the golden cave. There was a passage leading away into the heart ofthe hill, and the four of them walked down it, able to see everything quite clearly.Along the passage were many doors of all colours. Each door had a little notice on it, giving the name ofthe goblin who lived there. The children looked at them all, but could not see the name of Dear-Me. At lastthey came to the end door, and that had no name on at all."This must be Dear-Me's cave," said Merry. "It's the only one left!"So they knocked, and the door opened. A queer-looking goblin poked out his head. He wore a wastepa-per basket for a hat, and had a pencil in his mouth at which he kept puffing as if it were a pipe!"Hallo!" he said."Hallo!" said Chinky. "What is your name?""It's on the door," said the goblin. "I've forgotten what it is.""But it isn't on the door," said Peter. "There is no

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Mollie opened the draiver, and then stared in the greatest surprise.name there at all.""Oh," said the goblin. "Well, come in, whilst I think of it."They all went in. There was a large and cosy room made out of the cave behind the door. A fire glowed inone corner, and a small bed stuck out of the other. There was a table in the middle, and two or threestools stood here and there. There was no lamp, for the curious golden light shone here too."Is your name Dear-Me?" asked Chinky.


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"Of course it is," said the goblin. "Every one knows that!""Well, you didn't seem to know it," said Merry."Only because it wasn't on the door," said the goblin. "What have you all come for?""Well, we wanted to know if you have the map that shows the hill on which the Green Enchanter lives,"said Chinky."Yes, I have," said Dear-Me. "But, dear me! I couldn't tell you where it is at the moment!""Did you put it in a safe place?" asked the Prince.

"Of course!" said the goblin. "But it is always so difficult to remember safe places, isn't it?""Well, tell us one of your safe places, and we'll look there," said Mollie."It might be in that drawer," said the goblin, pointing to a drawer in the kitchen table. Mollie opened it, andthen stared in the greatest surprise. It was full of pea-pods, turned brown and dry!"Dear me!" said the goblin. "So that's where those pea-pods went to last summer. Well, look in the teapot,then, and see if the map's there.""In the teapot!" said Peter, thinking the goblin must be quite mad. However, he looked in the teapot on thedresser, and found it full of safety-pins. The goblin was so pleased to see them."I couldn't think where I'd put those pins!" he said."You know, buttons are always coming off my clothes and I have to pin them up such a lot. So I bought awhole crowd of safety-pins and thought I'd better keep them somewhere safe in case I lost them. So I putthem in the teapot - and then I couldn't remember where they were.""Tell us another of your hiding-places," begged Chinky patiently."You might look in the boot-box," said the goblin.

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They all looked for it."Where is the boot-box?" asked Peter at last. "Have you put that in a safe place too?""Oh, no," said the goblin. "Now let me think. Yes! I remember now - when the laundry came, the carrierwanted the basket back, so I put the clean clothes into the boot-box.""You do think of some surprising ideas!" said Merry. "I don't suppose the washing will be clean any longer.I suppose this is it, under the mangle."He pulled out a dirty old box in which clean shirts and collars were stuffed - but except for some old pota-toes at the bottom, there was nothing else in the box at all."I suppose you use the boot-box for your vegetables as well," said Chinky, shaking the potatoes about."Oh, are there some potatoes there?" cried the goblin, pleased. "I'll cook them for my dinner then. I was

just going out to buy some, but I couldn't find my hat."Chinky, Merry, and the children started at the wastepaper basket on the goblin's head. "Well," said Chinky,"you've got something on your head - we thought it was meant for a hat."The goblin took the basket off and looked at it in surprise."It's my waste-paper basket!" he said. "Now how did that get there? I spent all the morning looking for it.""Is this your hat?" asked Chinky, picking up something stuffed full with old newspapers."Dear me, yes!" said the goblin, pleased. "1 must have mistaken it for the basket. I do get into such mud-dles sometimes. I have so much to do, vou know."Clunky, Merry, and the children stared at the tvaste-paper basket o)i the goblin 's head.

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"What do you have to do?" asked Mollie curiously."Oh - there's getting up - and having meals - and dressing - and dusting - and going to bed," said the gob-lin. "That reminds me - it's time for something to eat. Will you have a bit of cherry-pie?"He darted to a cupboard, opened it, and brought out a pie; but as he went to put it on the table he fell overthe waste-paper basket, and smash! the pie fell to the floor and the red juice flowed out on to the carpet!"Dear me!" said the goblin. "That's the end of the pie, I'm afraid. Well, it wasn't a very good pie. Now, whatshall I wipe up the mess with?"

He went to the cupboard and caught up the piece of paper that lined the shelf. He was just about to mopup the mess with it when Chinky gave a cry:"Wait!"The pixie took the paper from him and shouted loudly:"It's the map! Look! Fancy the goblin using it to line a shelf with! Just the sort of thing he would do!"At that moment another goblin came rushing into the room, crying, "Your chair's flapping its wings!""We must go!" shouted Chinky, "or our chair will leave us behind! Good-bye, Dear-Me! Thanks for all thehelp you didn't give!"Out they all ran and flung themselves into the chair. Prince Merry had the map safely in his pocket. Tothink how nearly they had lost it!"Home, chair!" cried Peter, and off it went!IIITHE ADVENTURE OF THEGREEN ENCHANTERPETER, Mollie, Prince Merry, and Chinky the pixie all looked eagerly at the dirty old map."See!" said Chinky, pointing. "There is the Enchanter's Hill. I will tell the wishing-chair how-to get there assoon as it grows its wings again.""Then we will rescue Sylfai!" cried Merry."You can live here with Chinky," said Mollie, looking round the playroom. "I will bring you an old rug,Prince. Let us know when the chair grows its wings again."But a dreadful thing happened when the chair next grew its pretty red wings and flapped them in the play-room - for Peter was in bed with a cold! When Chinky came climbing up the window to peep into the bed-room (the playroom was at the bottom of the garden, you remember), Mollie was ready to go - but Peterwas much too sneezy and snuffly, and he was sure that his mother would be very angry if she came andfound him gone. So it was decided that Mollie, Merry, and Chinky should go alone, and Merry promised tolook after Mollie. They all said good-bye to Peter and left him. He felt very sad and lonely.The chair was anxious to fly off. Mollie sat in the seat

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They all said good-bye to Peter and left him.with Chinky squeezed beside her. The Prince flew near them, holding on occasionally when the chairwent very-fast."To the Green Enchanter's Hill!" cried Chinky to the chair. "Go by way of the rainbow, and then over thesnowy mountains of Lost Land."The chair flapped steadily up into the air. The sun shone out. Then there came a big cloud, and rain fell.The sun shone through the rain and made a glorious rainbow. At once the chair flew towards it, higherand higher into the air.It came to the topmost curve of the glittering rainbow. It balanced itself there - and then,W-HOOOOOOooosH! It slid all the way down it! What a slide that was! Mollie held her breath, and Merry'shair flew out behind him!They slid down to the bottom of the rainbow, and then the chair flew steadily on towards some high moun-tains, whose snowy tops stood up through the clouds."There's Lost Land!" cried Chinky, pointing. "If we got lost there, there'd be no finding us again."


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"Ooh!" said Mollie, shivering. "I hope the chair doesn't go down there."It didn't. It flew on and on. Presently a big mountain-top loomed up in the distance, sticking its green headup through the clouds."The Green Enchanter's Hill!" cried Chinky, in delight. "We haven't taken long! Now, we must be careful.We don't want the Enchanter to know we're here."The chair flew downwards. It came to a beautiful garden. It settled down on the ground in a sheltered cor-ner, where high hedges grew all round. Nobody could possibly see them there.

"Now, how can we rescue the Princess?" asked Chinky."She and I know a song that our pet canary whistles at home," whispered the Prince. "If I whistle it, shewill answer if she hears it, and then we shall know where she is."He pursed up his lips and began to whistle just like a singing canarv. It was wonderful to hear him. "Whenhe had whistled for half a minute, he stopped and listened

1617- and, clear as a bird, there came an answering song, justlike the voice of a singing canary!"That's Sylfai!" said Prince Merry joyfully. "Come on- let's go towards the whistling. It's over there."He and the others crept round the tall hedge and looked about. Stretching in front of them was a smallbluebell wood, and in the midst of it, gathering bluebells, was a dainty little Princess!"Sylfai!" cried Merry, and ran to her. She hugged him and then looked around her nervously."The Green Enchanter is somewhere near," she whispered. "He hardly ever leaves me. How are you go-ing to rescue me, Merry?""We have a magic wishing-chair behind the hedge," whispered back Merry. "Come along, Sylfai. Comewith me, and with Mollie and Chinky. They are my good friends"The four hurried out of the wood to the hedge; but when they reached it, they stopped - for they couldhear an angry voice shouting loudly:"Come here, chair, I tell you! Come here!""It is the Enchanter, who has found your chair!" whispered Sylfai frightened. "Now what shall we do?"Mollie and the others peeped through the hedge -and they saw a very strange sight! The Enchanter wastrying to catch hold of the chair, and it wouldn't let him! Every time he came near it, the chair spread itsred wings and flapped away from him. Then it settled down and waited till the angry Enchanter ran at itagain. Once more it spread its wings and dodged away.And then suddenly a most dreadful and surprising thing happened! The chair, tired of dodging theEnchanter, suddenly flew straight up into the air, made for the clouds - and disappeared!"It's gone without us!" said Merry, in dismay. "Whatever shall we do now?""Quick!" cried Sylfai, in fright. "The Enchanter will come to look for me, and he'll find you three too. Thenhe'll make you all prisoners, and it will be dreadful!""Where can we hide?" said Mollie, looking round."There's an old hollow tree in the wood," said Sylfai, and she ran with them to the middle of the wood.She showed them an enormous oak tree, and in a trice the Prince had climbed half-way up, and was pull-ing Mollie up. They slipped inside the big hollow, and waited for Chinky to join them. He soon came.The Prince poked his head out and called to Sylfai:"Can't you join us, Sylfai?""Sh!" said the Princess. "The Enchanter is coming!"Sure enough, a loud and angry voice came sounding through the wood."Sylfai! Where are you, Sylfai! Come here at once!""I'll see you when I can!" whispered the Princess. "All right, I'm coming!" she called to the Enchanter, andthe three in the tree heard the sound of her feet scampering off.They looked at one another."Whatever are we to do?" groaned Chinky. "I don't see how in the world we are to escape now our chair isgone! We are in a fix!"


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IVPETER'S OWN ADVENTUREPETER lay in bed, wishing very much that he could have gone off in the wishing-chair with the others. Hedozed for a little while, and then woke up feeling so much better that he decided to get up. He jumped outof bed and ran to the window to see what sort of afternoon it wa sAnd, as he looked out of the window, he saw-something that made him stare very hard indeed! He saw-something strange flying high up in the sky - not a bird - not an aeroplane - not a balloon! What could itbe?It came down lower - and then Peter saw that it was the magic wishing-chair!"But it's empty!" said Peter to himself, feeling very much afraid. "Where are the others? Oh dear, I do sohope that the Green Enchanter hasn't caught them! However will they escape, if the wishing-chair hascome back without them?"He dressed quickly, watching the wishing-chair as it came down to earth and flew in at the open door ofthe playroom at the bottom of the garden.He slipped downstairs and ran to the playroom. The chair was there, making a curious noise as if it wereout of breath!"Wait a minute, chair, before you make your wings disappear!" cried Peter, flinging himself into the seat."You must fly back again to Mollie and the others! Do you hear? I don't know where they are - but youmust go to them, for they will be in a great fright without you!"The chair made a grumbling, groaning sort of noise. It was tired and didn't want to fly any more. But Peterthumped the back of it and commanded it to fly."Do you hear me, chair? Fly back to Mollie!" he ordered.The chair flapped its wings more quickly and flew out of the door with a big sigh. It flew steadily upwards,found a rainbow and slid down it, much to Peter's delight. Then it came to the Lost Land, and Peter sawthe snowy tops of the mountains sticking up through the clouds, just as the others had done. The chairwas very tired as it flew over these mountains, and, to Peter's dismay, it began to fly downwards as if itmeant to rest itself on one of the summits."You mustn't do that!" cried Peter. "No one is ever found again if they go to the Lost Land."But the chair took no notice. It flew down to a snowy peak and settled itself there. Almost at once Peterspied some bearded gnomes coming up the mountain towards them, and he knew they were going tocatch and keep him and the chair. He jumped off the chair, picked it up, and waved it in the air until itstarted flapping its wings again. Then the little boy jumped into it, and up they flew once more, leaving thedisappointed gnomes behind them."This is my own adventure!" thought Peter. "But it's lonely, having adventures all by myself."

2021At last he saw the green peak of the Enchanter's high hill poking up through the clouds. Down flew thechair to the castle on the top. It came to rest in the very same place where it had rested before - in thesheltered place between high hedges. Peter jumped off and looked round. He thought it would be a goodidea to tie the chair up, as Chinky had once done before - then it couldn't fly away without him. So he tieda string from its leg to the hedge, then left it.As he was creeping round the hedge he saw a little

_t),ld MCGKXV,"/ say! Don't be frightened! Come here!" cried Peter. 22


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figure running nearby. It was the Princess Sylfai, though he did not know it. He gave a low whistle, mean-ing to ask her if she knew where his friends were. She heard him and looked round. When she saw him,she gave a scream, for she did not know who he was."I say! Don't be frightened! Come here!" cried Peter. But she ran away all the faster. So Peter gave chase,thinking that he really must catch her and ask her if she knew where Mollie and the others were. The littlefairy raced along, panting, and disappeared into the bluebell wood.

She ran to the hollow tree where Mollie, Prince Merry, and Chinky the Pixie were hiding, and called forhelp."\'ozc I've sot yon!" shouted Prince Merry, as Peter ran by the trei23"There's an enemy after me!" she panted. Prince Merry heard his sister calling for help, and he at onceclimbed out of the hollow tree and drew his sword. Hewould kill the enemy!Sylfai ran to him, and pointed behind her. "He is coming!" she panted. "Hide behind this tree, Merry and

jump out at him as he runs by!"So Merry hid behind the tree, waiting, his sword drawn. Peter came up, panting and puffing, wonderingwhere the little fairy had gone."AW I've got you!" shouted Prince Merry in his fiercest voice, as Peter ran by the tree behind which hewas hiding. He pounced at the surprised boy with his sword ready to strike - and then stopped in amaze-ment!"Peter!" he cried. "I nearly wounded you! How did you get here?""I came in the wishing-chair!" said Peter. "I saw it come home alone, and I was afraid something had hap-pened to you all. So I made it come back again. I saw this little fairy and wanted to ask her where you allwere, but she ran away.""This is my sister, Princess Sylfai," said Merry, "and this, Sylfai, is Peter. Hi, Mollie and Chinkv! Come out!Here's Peter - and he's got the wishing-chair!""What's all this NOISE!" an angry voice suddenly shouted. "Sylfai! WHERE ARE YOU?""There's the Green Enchanter!" said Sylfai, in dismay. "What shall we do?""Run for the chair!" cried Peter. "Come on!"All five of them ran out of the wood towards the hedge behind which the chair was tied - but will you be-lieve it, when they crept round the hedge, there was the Enchanter sitting in their chair, a wicked grin onhis face, waiting for them to come!"Peter! Chinkv! There's only one thing to do!"whispered Merry desperately. "We'll run at him, tip him off the chair, and, before he knows what is hap-pening, we'll be off into the air. Mollie and Sylfai, keep by us!"Then, with a loud whoop, Peter, Chinkv, and the Prince hurled themselves at the astonished Enchanter,tipped up the chair, and sent him sprawling on his face! The Prince quickly picked up the Enchanter'scloak and wound it tightly two or three times round the angry man's head, so that he could not speak orsee!Whilst the Enchanter was trying to unwrap himself, Mollie and Sylfai squeezed into the chair. Chinkv saton one arm, and Peter sat on the other. Merry cut the rope, and cried, "Home, Chair!"It rose up swiftly into the air, with Merry guiding it, flying beside it."We're safe!" cried Merry. "Thank you, Peter, for daring to come on an adventure by yourself!"VTHE OLD, OLD MANTHE wishing-chair had not grown its wings for a long time. Chinkv and the children had become quitetired of waiting for another adventure. Mollie thought perhaps the magic had gone out of it, and it might be

just an ordinary chair now. It was most disappointing.

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It was a lovely fine day, and Peter wanted to go for a walk. "Come with us, Chinky," he said. "It's no usestaying in the playroom with the chair. It won't grow its wings today!"So Chinky the pixie squashed his pointed ears under one of Peter's old caps, put on an old overcoat ofPeter's, and set out with the children. Jane the housemaid saw them going, and she called after them:"If you're going out, I shall give the playroom a good clean out. It hasn't been done for a long time.""All right!" called back Mollie. "We won't be home till dinner-time."

They had a lovely walk, and ran back to the playroom about dinner-time. It did look clean. Jane was justfinishing the dusting. Chinky waited outside, for he did not want to be seen. But suddenly Peter turnedpale, and said, "Oh, where's the chair? Mollie, where's the chair?""Oh, do you mean that old chair?" said Jane, gathering up her brushes. "An old, old man came for it. Hesaid it had to be mended, or something. He took it away."She went up to the house, leaving the two children staring at each other in dismay. Chinky ran in, andhow he stared when he heard the news!"I know who the old man must have been!" he cried. "It's old Bone-Lazy, who lives at the foot of BreezyHill. He hates walking, so I expect he thought he'd get hold of our wishing-chair if he could. Then he'd beable to go everywhere in it!""How can we get it back?" asked Mollie, almost in tears."I don't know," said Chinky. "We'll have a try anyhow. Come back here after dinner, and we'll go tohiscottage."So after their dinner the two children ran back to their playroom. They found a most astonishing sight.There was no Chinky there - only an old woman, dressed in a black shawl that was drawn right over herhead!"Who are you?" asked Mollie. Then she gave a cry of surprise - for, when the old woman raised her head,Mollie saw the merry face of Chinky the pixie!"Who arc you?" asked Mollie."This disguise is part of my plan for getting back our magic chair," explained Chinky. "Now I want you togo with me to Bone-Lazy's cottage, and I shall pretend to fall down and hurt myself outside. You will runup and help me to my feet - then you will help me to BoneLazy's cottage, knock at the door, and explainthat I'm an old lady who needs a drink of water and a rest."

2627"And whilst we're in the cottage we look round to see if our chair is there!" cried Peter. "What a marvellousplan!"They set off. Chinky took them through a little wood they never seemed to have seen before, and, whenthey came out on the other side of it, they were in country that looked quite different! The flowers werebrighter, the trees were full of blossom, and brilliant birds flew here and there!"I never knew it was so easy to get to Fairyland!" said Mollie, in surprise."It isn't!" said Chinky, with a grin, lifting up his black shawl and peeping at the children merrily. "Youcouldn't possibly find it unless you had me with you!""Is that Bone-Lazy's cottage?" asked Mollie, pointing towards a cottage at the foot of a nearby hill.Chinky nodded."I'll go on ahead now," he said. "Then you must do your part as we have planned. Good luck!"He hobbled on in front, looking for all the world like an old woman. When he came just by the cottage,Chinky suddenly gave a dreadful groan, and fell to the ground. At once the children rushed up and pulledthe pretended old woman to her feet. From the corner of his eye Peter saw some one looking out of thewindow of the cottage at them."Quick! Quick!" he cried very loudly to Mollie. "This poor woman has fainted! We must take her into thiscottage and ask for a drink of water for her. She must rest!"


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They half-carried Chinky to the cottage door and knocked loudly. An old, old man opened it. He had nar-row cunning eyes and the children didn't like the look of him at all. They explained about the old womanand took her into the cottage. "Could you get a drink of water?" said Mollie.The old chap left the room, grumbling. "I shall have to go to the well," he muttered crossly."Good!" thought Peter. "It will give us time for a look round."But, to their great disappointment, their wishing-chair was not to be seen! The cottage only had one room,so it did not take them long to hunt all round it. Before they had time to say anything the old, old man

came back with a jug of water.Mollie took it from him - and then she suddenly noticed a very curious thing. A great draught was comingfrom a big chest-of-drawers standing in a corner. She stared at it in surprise. How could it be making sucha wind round her feet? It was only a chest-of-drawers!But wait a minute! Was it only a chest-of-drawers? Quick as lightning Mollie upset the jug of water, andthen turned to Bone-Lazy in apology. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I've upset the water! How very careless of me! Iwonder if you'd be good enough to get some more?"The old man shouted at her rudely, snatched up the jug, and went down the garden to the well. The oth-ers stared at Mollie in surprise."Whatever did you do that for?" said Peter."There's something queer about that chest-of-drawers," said Mollie. "There's a strange wind coming fromit. Feel, Chinky! I upset the jug jusr to get the old

2829man out of the way for a minute."Stars and moon! He's changed our chair into a chest!" cried Chinky. "It must have grown wings, but wecan't see them because of Bone-Lazy's magic! Quick, all of you! Jump into a drawer, and I'll wish usaway!"The children pulled open two of the enormous drawers and sat inside. Chinky sat on the top, crying"Home, wishing-chair, home!"The chest groaned, and the children heard a flapping noise. Just at that moment the old man came intothe room again with a jug of water. How he stared! But, before he could do anything, the chest-of-drawersrose up in the air, knocked the water out of his hand, almost pushed him over, and squeezed itself out ofthe door."You won't steal our chair again!" shouted cheeky Chinky, and he flung his black shawl neatly over Bone-Lazy's head.The chest rose high into the air, and then a funny thing happened. It began to change back into the chairthey all knew so well! Before they could think what to do, the children found themselves sitting safely onthe seat, for the drawers all vanished into cushions! Chinky was on the top of the back, singing for joy."That was a marvellous plan of yours!" said Peter."Well, Mollie was the sharpest!" laughed Chinky. "It was she who noticed the draught from the chest.Good old Mollie!"VITOPSY-TURVY LANDONCE the wishing-chair played a very silly trick on Mollie. The children were cross about it for a longtime, and so was Chinky the pixie.The chair had grown its wings and the children sat on the seat as usual with Chinky on the back."Where shall we go?" asked Peter."Let's go to Topsy-Turvy Land," said Chinky with a laugh. "It's a funny place to see - everything wrong,you know! It will give us a good laugh!""Yes, let's go there!" said Peter, pleased. "It would be fun.""To Topsy-Turvy Land, chair!" commanded Chinky. The chair rose up in the air and flew off at once. Itflapped its wings fast, and very soon the children had flown right over the spires of Fairyland and weregazing down on a strange-looking land.


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The chair flew downwards. It came to rest in a village, and the children and Chinky jumped off. Theystared in surprise at the people there.Nobody seemed to know how to dress properly! Coats were on back to front, and even upside down. Onelittle man had his trousers on his arms! He wore his legs through the sleeves of his coat. The children be-gan to

3031giggle, and the little man looked at them in surprise."Have you had bad news?" he asked."Of course not," said Peter. "We shouldn't laugh if we had!""You would if you lived in Topsy-Turvy Land," grinned Chinky. "Look at this woman coming along, cryinginto her handkerchief. Ask her what's the matter.""What is the matter?" asked Mollie. The woman mopped her streaming eyes and said, "Oh, I've just foundmy purse, which I lost, and I'm so glad.""There you are!" said Chinky. "They cry when they're glad and smile when they're sad!""Look at that man over there!" said Mollie suddenly. "He's getting into his house by the window instead ofthrough the door; and do look! his door has lace curtains hung over it. Does he think it's a window?""What is the matter?" asked Mollie."I expect so," said Chinky, with a grin. "Do you see

that little boy over there with gloves on his feet and shoes on his hands? I must say I wouldn't like to livein Topsy-Turvy Land!"The children didn't want to live there either - but it really was fun to see all the curious things around them.They saw children trying to read a book backwards. They watched a cat crunching up a bone and a doglapping milk, so it seemed as if even the animals were topsy-turvy too!Suddenly a policeman came round the corner, and, as soon as he saw the children and Chinky with theirchair, he bustled up to them in a hurry, taking out a notebook as large as an atlas as he did so."Where is your licence to keep a chair?" he asked sternly. He took out a rubber and prepared to write withit."You can't write with a rubber!" said Mollie."I shall write with whatever I please!" said the policeman. "Yes, and I shall rub out with my pencil if I wantto. Now, then, where's your licence?""You don't need to have a licence for a chair," said Chinky, impatiently. "Don't be silly. It isn't a motorcar.""Well, it's got wings, so it must be an aeroplane chair," said the policeman, tapping with his rubber on hisenormous notebook. "You have to have a licence for that in this country.""We haven't a licence and we're not going to get one," said Peter, and he pushed the policeman's note-book away, for it was sticking into him. The policeman was furious. He glared at Chinky. He glared at Pe-ter. He glared at Mollie - and then he glared at the chair. The

3233chair seemed to feel uncomfortable. It hopped about on the pavement and tried to edge away from thepoliceman."I shall take your chair to prison," said the policeman, and he made a grab at it. The chair hopped away -and then hopped back unexpectedly and trod hard on one of the policeman's feet. Then off it went again.Chinky ran after it."Hie, come back, chair!" he yelled. "We can't have you going off like this. Don't be afraid. We won't let thepoliceman get you! Come on, Mollie and Peter - jump into the chair quickly, and we'll fly off."


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Peter ran after the chair - but the policeman caught hold of Mollie's arm. Chinky and Peter jumped into thechair before they saw what was happening to Mollie -and, dear me, before they could get off it again, thechair spread its red wings and rose up into the air!"Peter! Chinky! Don't leave me here!" shouted Mollie, trying to wriggle away from the policeman."Chair, fly down again!" commanded Chinky.But, do you know, the wishing-chair was so scared of being put into prison that it wouldn't do as it wastold! It flew on, straight up into the air with Peter and Chinky, and left poor Mollie behind. Nothing Chinky

could say would make that disobedient chair go down again to fetch Mollie. It flew on and on and wassoon out of sight.Mollie was terribly upset. She began to cry, and the policeman stared at her. "What is amusing you?" heasked. "What are you glad about?""I'm not amused or glad!" said Mollie. "I'm not like you silly topsy-turvy people, crying when I'm glad, andlaughing when I'm sad. I don't belong to this horrid,stupid country at all!""Dear me, I didn't know that," said the policeman, putting away his notebook. "Why didn't you say so be-fore?""You never asked me," said Mollie, half angry, half frightened. "My friend, the pixie who was here just now,will probably tell the pixie King how you kept me here, and he will be VERY ANGRY INDEED.""Oh, you must go home at once," said the policeman, who was now shaking like a jelly with fright. "Youshall catch a bus home. I will pay your fare myself. I will show you where the bus is."He took Mollie to a stopping-place - but as the buses all went straight on, and passengers had to jump onand off whilst it was going, Mollie thought it was silly to call it a stopping-place! It was a comical-lookingbus, too, for although the driver drove it by a wheel, he had a whip by his side and cracked it loudlywhenever the bus seemed to slow down, just as if it were a horse!The policeman put Mollie on the bus as it came past the stopping-place and threw some money at theconductor. He picked it up and threw it back. Mollie thought that the topsy-turvy people were the maddestshe had ever seen.She sat down on a seat. "Standing room only in this bus," said the conductor. "Give me your ticket,please.""Well, you've got to give me one," said Mollie. "And what do you mean by saying 'standing roomonly?'There are heaps of seats."She sat down and the conductor glared at her. "The seats will be worn out if people keep sitting on them,"he said. "And where's your ticket, please?"

3435

"I'll show it to you when you give me one," said Mollie, impatiently. "Give me a ticket for home. I live inHilltown.""Then you're going the wrong way," said the conductor. "But as a matter of fact no bus goes to Hilltown.So you can stay in my bus if you like. One is as good as another."Mollie jumped up in a rage. She leapt out of the bus and began to walk back to where she had startedfrom. What a silly place Topsy-Turvy Land was. She would never get home from here!Just as she got back to the street from which the bus had started, Mollie saw Chinky! Hozv pleased shewas. She shouted to him and waved. "Chinky! Chinky! Here I am!"Chinky saw her and grinned. He came over to her and gave her a hug."Sorry to have left you like that, Mollie," he said. "The wishing-chair did behave badly. I've left it at home inthe corner! It is very much ashamed of itself.""Well, if you left the chair at home how did you come here?" asked Mollie in astonishment."I borrowed a couple of Farmer Straw's geese," grinned Chinky. "Look! There they are, over there.There's one for you to fly back on and one for me. Come on, or Farmer Straw will miss his fat old geese."


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"Chinky, quick! There's that policeman again!" cried Mollie suddenly. "Oh - and he's going to the geese -and getting his big notebook out - I'm sure he's going to ask them for a licence or something! Let's getthem, quick!"Chinky and Mollie raced to where the two geese were staring in great astonishment at the policeman,who waslooking all around them, trying, it seemed, to find their number-plates! Mollie jumped on to the back of one

and Chinky on to the other."Hie!" cried the policeman, "have these geese got numbers and lamps?""I'll go and ask the farmer they belong to!" laughed Chinky. The geese rose up into the air and the windthey made with their big wings blew off the policeman's helmet."I'll take your names, I'll take your names!" he yelled in a temper.He scribbled furiously in his notebook - and Mollie laughed so much that she nearly fell off her goose."Hie!" cried the policeman, ''have these geese go: numbers and lamps?""He doesn't know our names - and he's trying to write

3637with his rubber!" she giggled. "Oh dear! What a topsyturvy creature!"Peter was delighted to see Chinky and Mollie again. The two geese took them to the playroom door, cack-led good-bye to Chinky, and flew off down to the farm.The wishing-chair stood in the corner. Its wings had disappeared. It looked very forlorn indeed. It knew itwas in disgrace.Chinky turned it round the right way again. "We'll forgive you if you'll behave yourself next time!" he said.The chair creaked loudly. "It's sorry now!" grinned Chinky. "Come on - what about a game of ludo beforevou have to go in?"VIITHE CHAIR RUNS AWAY AGAINONE afternoon Mollie, Peter, and Chinky were in the playroom together, playing at Kings and Queens.They each took it in turn to be a King or a Queen, and they wore the red rug for a cloak, and a cardboardcrown covered with gold paper. The wishing-chair was the throne.It was Peter's turn to be King. He put on the crown and wound the red rug round his shoulders for a cloak.He did feel grand. He sat down in the wishing-chair and arranged the cloak round him, so that it fell allround the chair and on to the floor too, just like a real king's cloak.Then Mollie and Chinky had to curtsy and bow to him, and ask for his commands. He could tell them todo anything he liked."Your Majesty, what would you have me do today?" asked Mollie, curtsying low."I would have you go and pick me six dandelions, six daisies, and six buttercups," said Peter, grandly,waving his hand. Mollie curtsved again and walked out backwards, nearly falling over a stool as she didso.Then Chinky asked Peter what he was to do for him. "Your Majesty, what would you have me do?" hesaid, bowing low."I would have you go to the cupboard and get me a green sweet out of the bottle there," said Peter com-mandingly. Chinky went to the cupboard. He couldn't see the bottle at first. He moved the tins about andhunted for it. He didn't see what was happening behind him!Peter didn't see either. But what was happening was that the wishing-chair was growing its wings - underthe red rug that was all around its legs! Peter sat in the chair, waiting impatiently for his commands to beobeyed -and the chair flapped its red wings under the rug and wondered why it could not flap them aseasily as usual!Mollie was in the garden gathering the flowers that Peter had ordered. Chinky was still hunting for the bot-tle of sweets. The wishing-chair flapped its wings harder than ever - it suddenly rose into the air, and flewswiftly out of the door before Peter could jump out, and before


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3839Chinky could catch hold of it. It was gone!

"Hie, Mollie, Mollie!" yelled Chinky in alarm."The wishing-chair's gone - and Peter's gone with it!"Mollie came tearing into the playroom. "I saw it!" she panted. "Oh, why didn't Peter or you see that itswings had grown? Now, it's gone off with Peter, and we don't know where!""We didn't see its wings growing because the red rug hid its legs!" said Chinky. "It must have grown themunder the rug and flown off before any of us guessed!""Well, what shall we do?" asked Mollie. "What will happen to Peter?""It depends where he's gone," said Chinky. "Did you see which way the chair went?""Towards the west," said Mollie. "Peter was yelling and shouting like anything - but he couldn't stop thechair.""Well, we'd better go on a journey of our own," said Chinky. "I'll catch Farmer Straw's two geese again.They won't like it much - but it can't be helped. We must go after Peter and the chair somehow!"He ran off down to the farm. Presently Mollie heard the noise of flapping wings, and down from the skycame Chinky, riding on the back of one of the geese, and leading the other by a piece of thick string. Thegeese hissed angrily as they came to the ground."They are most annoyed about it," said Chinky to Mollie. "They only came when I promised them that Iwouldn't let Farmer Straw take them to market next week.""Ss-ss-ss-ss!" hissed the big geese, and one tried topeck at Mollie's fat legs. Chinky smacked it."Behave yourself!" he said. "If you peck Mollie I'll change your beak into a trumpet, and then you'll only beable to toot, not cackle or hiss!"Mollie laughed. "You do say some funny things, Chinky," she said. She got on to the goose's back. Up inthe air it went, flapping its enormous white wings."We'll go to the cloud castle first of all," said Chinky. "The fairies there may have seen Peter going by andcan tell us where they think the chair might have been going.""Ss-ss-ss-ss!" hissed the big geese, and one tried to peek at Mollic's fat legs. Clunky smacked it.

4041So they flew to an enormous white cloud that towered up into the sky. As they drew near it Mollie couldsee that it had turrets, and was really a cloud castle. She thought it was the loveliest thing she had everseen.There wTas a great gateway in the cloud castle. The geese flew through it and landed in a misty court-yard. Mollie was just going to get off when Chinky shouted to her."Don't get off, Mollie - you haven't got cloud-shoes on and you'd fall right through to the earth below!"Mollie stayed on her goose. Small fairies dressed in all the colours of the rainbow came running into thecourtyard, chattering in delight to see Mollie and Chinky. They wore cloud-shoes, rather like big flat snow-shoes, and with these they were able to step safely on the cloud that made their castle."Come in and have some lemonade!" cried the little folk. But Chinky shook his head."We are looking for a boy in a flying chair," he said. "Have you see him?""Yes!" cried the fairies, crowding round the geese, who cackled and hissed at them. "He passed aboutfifteen minutes ago. The chair had red wings and was flying strongly towards the west. Hurry and youmay catch it up!""Thank you!" cried Chinky. He shook the string reins of his goose, and he and Mollie flew up into the aironce more, and went steadily westwards.


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"There is a gnome who lives in a tall tower some miles westwards," said Chinky. "It is so tall that it sticksout above the clouds. We will make for there, and see if he has seen anything of Peter and the wishing-chair."The geese flew on, cackling to one another. They were still in a bad temper. Chinky kept a look out for thetall tower - but Mollie saw it first. It looked very strange. It was sticking right through a big black cloud,and, as it was made of bright silver, it shone brilliantly.

There was a small window at the top. It was open. The geese flew down to the window-sill and Chinkystuck his head inside."Hie, gnome of the tower! Are you in?""Yes!" yelled a voice. "If that is the baker leave me a brown loaf, please.""It isn't the baker!" shouted Chinky. "Come on up here!""Well, if it's the butcher, leave me a pound of sausages!" yelled the voice.The gnome climbed out on the zvindozc- sill and began to polish his silver tozver zvitli a big check duster.

4243"It isn't the butcher!" shouted back Chinky, getting cross. "And it isn't the milkman or the grocer or thenewspaper boy or the fishmonger either!""And it isn't the postman!" cried Mollie. "It's Chinky and Mollie!"The gnome was surprised. He climbed up the many steps of his tower till he came to the top. Then he puthis head out of the window and gaped in amazement to see Mollie and Chinky on their two geese."Hallo!" he said. "Where do you come from?""Never mind that," said Chinky. "We've come to ask you if you've seen a boy on a flying chair.""Yes," said the gnome at once. "He passed about twenty minutes ago. I thought he was a king or some-thing because he wore a golden crown. He was going towards the land of the Scally-Wags.""Oh my!" said Chinky in dismay. "Are you sure?""Of course I am," said the gnome, nodding his big head. "I thought he was the baker coming at first.""You think everyone's the baker!" said Chinky, and he jerked the reins of his goose. "Come on, goose! Tothe land of the Scally-Wags."The geese flew off. The gnome climbed out on the window-sill and began to polish his silver tower with abig check duster."Does he keep that tower polished himself?" said Mollie in surprise. "Goodness, it must keep him busy allthe week!""It does," said Chinky, grinning. "Because as soon as he's done it all and reached the top, the bottom isdirty again and he has to begin all over again!""Chinky, you didn't sound very pleased when youknew that Peter and the chair had gone to the Land of the Scally-Wags," said Mollie. "Why weren't you?""Well, the Scally-Wags are horrid people," said Chinky. "You see, to that land go all the bad folk of Fairy-land, Goblin-Land, Brownie-Town, Pixie-Land, Gnome-Country, and the rest. They call themselves Scally-Wags, and they are just as horrid as they sound. If Peter goes there he will be treated like a Scally-Wag,and expected to steal and tell fibs and behave very badly. And if he doesn't, they will say he is a spy andlock him up.""Oh, Chinky, I do think that's horrid," said Mollie in dismay. "Peter will hate being in a land like that.""Well, don't worry, I dare say we shall be able to rescue him all right," said Chinky - though really he hadno idea at all how to save Peter. Chinky himself had never been to the Land of Scally-Wags before!The geese cackled and hissed. They were getting tired. Chinky hoped they would be able to go on flyingtill they reached Scally-Wag Land. Mollie leaned over and looked down."Look, Chinky." she said. "Is that Scally-Wag Land? Do you see those houses down there - and that funnyrailway line - and that river with those ships on?""Yes," said Chinky, "that must be Scally-Wag Land. Down, geese, and land there!"


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The geese flew downwards. They landed by the river, and as soon as Chinky and Mollie had jumped off,the two geese paddled into the water and began to swim. Chinky tied their strings to a post, for he wasafraid they might fly off.A Scallv-Wag ran up to him."Where do vou come from?" he asked. "Are vou

4445

Off zee in the uvo, naming at lop speed, zcith the angry Scally-Wag after them.messengers from anywhere?""No," said Chinky. "We've come to look for some one who came to this land by mistake. We want to takehim back.""No one leaves this land once they are here," said the Scally-Wag. "I believe you are spies!""Indeed we are not!" said Mollie. The Scally-Wag drew a whistle from his belt and blew on it loudly. Chinkylooked alarmed. He caught hold of Mollie's hand."Run!" he said. "If they think we are spies they will lock us up!"Off went the two, running at top speed, with the angry Scally-Wag after them. They didn't know wherethey were going! They only knew that they must run and run and run!VIIITHE LAND OF SCALLY-WAGSMOLLIE and Chinky ran down the river-path, the Scally-Wag shouting after them."Spies!" he called. "Stop them! Spies!" Chinky dragged Mollie on and on. They were both good runners.Another Scally-Wag, hearing the first one shouting, tried to stop Chinky - but the pixie gave him a fiercepush and he toppled into the river, splash! How he spluttered and shouted! That gave Chinky an idea.He squeezed through a hedge and pulled Mollie after him. Then he lay in wait for the shouting Scally-Wag. As soon as he was through the hedge Chinky gave him a push too - and into the river he went,head-first, squealing like a rabbit! Mollie couldn't help laughing, for he seemed all arms and legs. The wa-ter wasn't deep, so he couldn't drown - but dear me, how he yelled!"Come on, Mollie," said Chinky. "We seem to be behaving just as badly as Scally-Wags, pushing peopleinto the river like this!"They ran on. They seemed to run for miles. They asked every Scally-Wag they met if he had seen a littleboy in that land, but nobody had. They all shook their heads and said the same thing.

4647"There is no little boy in this land.""Well, it's really very peculiar," said Chinky to Mollie. "He must be .v/t'\vhere here!""I say, Chinky, I'm getting so hungry," said Mollie. "Aren't you?""Yes, very," said Chinky. "Let's knock at this cottage door and see if they will give us something to eat."So he knocked - rat-a-tat-tat. The door opened and a sharp-eyed little goblin looked out."What do you want?" he asked."We are hungry," said Mollie. "Could you give us anything to eat?""Look!" said the goblin, pointing down the lane to where a baker's cart was standing, full of loaves. "Goand take one of the baker's loaves. He's gossiping somewhere. He won't miss one!""\\"lhii von 7vont?'\iskcJ I he i'obliu."But we can't do that!" said Mollie in horror. "That's stealing!"


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"Don't be silly," said the goblin, looking at her out of his small, sharp eyes. "You don't mmd stealing, doyou? I've never met a Scally-Wag who minded stealing yet! Ill steal a loaf for you if you are afraid of beingcaught!"He set off towards the cart, keeping close by the hedge so that he wouldn't be seen. Mollie and Chinkystared at one another in dismay."Chinky, what horrible people live in this land," said Mollie. "Stop him! We can't let him steal like that. Iwould never eat any bread that had been stolen."

"Let's warn the baker," said Chinky. But before they could find him, the goblin had sneaked up to the littlecart and had grabbed a new loaf. Then back he scurried to Mollie and Chinky and gave them the loaf,grinning all over his face."I'm sorry, but we couldn't have it," said Chinky. "Stealing is wrong.""Not in Scally-Wag Land," said the goblin, his cunning eyes twinkling."It's wrong anywhere" said Mollie firmly. "Come on, Chinky. We'll put this loaf back into the cart."They set off to the cart - but do you know, just as they were putting the loaf back, that horrid little goblinbegan to shout for all he was worth. "Baker, Baker! Thieves are at your cart! Look out!"The baker came hurrying out. He caught hold of Chinky and began to shake him. "You bad Scally-Wag!"he cried."I'm not a Scally-Wag! I was just putting back a loaf that the goblin stole!" cried Chinky."You are a fibber!" said the baker, and he shook Chinky again until his teeth rattled. Mollie ran 10 the

4849rescue. She tried to catch hold of the baker's arm - but he pushed her and sent her flying. She caught atthe little cart to try and save herself - and it went over! All the loaves rolled out into the road.The baker gave a loud yell and ran to his cart. The watching goblin shrieked with delight. Mollie andChinky ran off as fast as they could, crying, "We're so sorry! But it was your own fault for not believing us!"They ran until they came to a field of buttercups. They squeezed through a gap in the hedge, and satdown to get their breath."I'm thirsty as well as hungry now," said Mollie. "Where can we get a drink? If we went and asked for adrink of water surely no Scally-Wag would want to steal that for us! Look, there's a cottage over there,Chinky. Let's go and ask."They went to the cottage, hot and thirsty and tired. A brownie woman came to the door. She was a cross-looking creature."I thought you were the milkman," she said."No, he's just down the road there," said Chinky, pointing. "Please, Mam, may we have a drink of water.""I'll get you a drink of milk!" said the woman, and to Chinky's surprise she darted down the road to themilkman's little hand-cart, and turned on the tap of the churn. The milk ran out of the tap on to the road."Come on!" said the woman. "Drink this!""But we can't do that!" cried Mollie in surprise and disgust. "That's stealing. Oh, do turn off the tap. Themilk is all going to waste!"The milkman could be heard coming down some one's path, whistling. The woman ran back to her house.leaving the tap turned on. The milkman heard his milk running to waste and ran to turn off the tap, shout-ing angrily, "Who did this? Wait till I catch them!""They did it, those children did it! I saw them!" cried the brownie woman from her door. The milkman sawChinky and Mollie standing nearby and made a dart at them. But this time they got away before they werecaught. They ran down the lane and darted inside a little dark shed to hide."It's too bad," said Mollie. "These Scally-Wags keep doing horrid things and blaming them on to us. I dohate them!""Sh!" said Chinky. "There's the milkman coming after us. Cover yourself in this old sack, Mollie, and I'll dothe same."They lay down in a corner, covered with the sacks. The milkman looked into the shed and ran on. Molliesat up. She looked at Chinky and laughed."You do look dirty and hot and untidy," she said.


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"So do you," said Chinky. "In fact, we look like proper little Scally-Wags. They all look dirty and untidy too!Now, where shall we go next! If only we could find Peter!"They went out of the shed. The hot sun shone down on them. They felt thirstier than ever. They saw alittle stream running nearby, looking cool and clear."What about getting a drink from that?" said Mollie."Well, I don't like drinking from streams," Chinky said. "But really, I'm dreadfully thirsty! Let's try it. Butdon't drink too much, Mollie."

The two of them knelt down by the stream, took water into their cupped hands and drank. Ooooh! It wasso

5051cold and delicious. Just as they finished, and were feeling much better, they heard a voice behind them."That will be twopence each, please. You have drunk from my stream."They turned and saw a wizard behind them, in a tall, pointed hat, and cloak embroidered with stars."We haven't any money," said Chinky."Then you had better come with me and work for me for one day to pay for the drinks you have had," saidthe wizard. He tried to grab hold of Mollie - but quick as thought Chinky lifted his fist and brought it downon the wizard's pointed hat. It was crushed right down over his long nose, and he couldn't see a thing!Once more Mollie and Chinky ran. "Oh dear," panted Mollie, "we really are behaving just like Scally-Wags,Chinky - but we can't seem to help it!""Look! There's the river again!" said Chinky in delight. "And there are our two geese. Let's get on theirbacks, Mollie, and go away from this land. I'm sure Peter isn't here. No one seems to have seen him. I'mtired of being here.""All right," said Mollie. They ran down the river-bank and called to the geese."Come here! We want to fly farther on!"And then, to their great surprise, a witch in a green shawl stood up on the bank and cried, "Hie! Leave mygeese alone!""They are not yours, they are ours!" yelled Chinky in anger. He cut the string as the geese came swim-ming to the bank. The witch tried to grab the two big birds - and in a fright thev spread their big wings,flew up into the air anti awav! Mollie and Chinky watched them in the52greatest dismay. Their way of escape had gone!Chinky was furious with the witch. Before Mollie could stop him he gave her a push, and she went flyinginto the water. Splash!'I'licv turned and sate a fei:ard behind them.53"Chinky! You mustn't keep pushing people into the water!" cried Mollie, turning to run awTay again - butthis

time it was too late. The witch shouted a few magic words as she made her way out of the river - and loand behold, Chinky and Mollie found that they could not move a step!"So you thought you could push me into the river and run away, did you?" said the witch. "Well, you weremistaken! I shall now take you before our King - and no doubt he will see that you are well punished.March!"The two found that they could walk - but only where the witch commanded. Very miserable indeed theymarched down a long, long road, the witch behind them, and at last came to a small palace. Up the stepsthey went, and the witch called to the guard there."Two prisoners for the King! Make way!"The guards cried,


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"Advance!" and the threeof them, Mollie, Chinky, The guards cried,and the witch, walked "advance!"and the three. ,,,_.. of tnem vjauiea aozvn adown a great hall. Sitting , , ^ great nau.54

on a throne at the end, raised high, was the King, wearing a golden crown and a red cloak.And oh, whatever do you think! Mollie and Chinky could hardly believe their eyes - for the King was noother than Peter - yes, Peter himself! He was still wearing his golden cardboard crown and the red rug fora cloak - and his throne was the wishing-chair. Its wings had disappeared. It looked just like an ordinarychair.Peter stared at Mollie and Chinky in amazement - and they stared at him. Mollie was just going to cry,"Peter! Oh, Peter!" when Peter winked at her, and Chinky gave her a nudge. She was not to give his se-cret away!IXTHE PRINCE'S SPELLSFOR a minute or two Peter, Mollie, and Chinky gazed at one another and said nothing. Then the witchspoke."Your Majesty, here are two prisoners for you. They pushed me into the river after they had tried to stealmy geese.""Leave them with me," said Peter in a solemn voice. "I will punish them, Witch."The witch bowed and went out backwards. Mollie wanted to giggle but she didn't dare to. Nobodv said aword until the big door closed.55Then Peter leapt down from the chair and flung his arms round Mollie and Chinky. They hugged one an-other in delight."Peter, Peter! Tell us how it is you are King here!" said Mollie."Well, it is quite simple," said Peter. "The chair flew off with me as you know. It flew for some time, andthen began to go downwards. It landed on the steps of this palace, which had been empty for years.""As soon as the Scally-Wags saw me, all dressed up in my crown and cloak, sitting on the flying chair,they thought I must be some wonderful magic king come from a far-off land to live here. So they boweddown before me, and called me King. I didn't know what to do because the wishmg-chair's wings disap-peared, of course, so I couldn't escape. I just thought I'd better pretend to be a King, and wait for you tocome along -for I guessed you and Mollie would find some way of getting to me! Now, tell me your adven-tures!"How Peter laughed when he heard what a lot of people Chinky had pushed into the water! "You really area bit of a Scally-Wag yourself, Chinky," he said. "That's the sort of thing the Scally-Wags love to do!""Peter, how can we all escape?" asked Mollie. "If only the wishing-chair would grow its wings again! But itnever does when we really want it to!""What will Mother say if we stay away too long?" said Peter, looking worried."Well, a day here is only an hour in your land," said Chinky. "So don't worry. Even if we have to be herefor two or three days it won't matter, because it will only be two or three hours really. Your mother won'tworry if youare only away for a few hours.""And by that time perhaps the chair will have grown its wings again," said Mollie, cheering up."Look here," said Chinky, "I think you ought to make up some sort of punishment for us, Peter, or thewitch will think there is something funny about you. Make us scrub the floor, or something. Anything willdo.""But do give us something to eat," said Mollie. "We really are very hungry."Peter clapped his hands. The door swung open and two soldiers appeared. They saluted and clicked theirheels together."Bring me a tray of chocolate cakes, some apples, and some sardine sandwiches," commanded Peter."And some lemonade, too. Oh, and bring two pails of hot water and two scrubbing-brushes. I am going tomake my two prisoners scrub the floor."


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The guards saluted and went out. In a few minutes two Scally-Wags, dressed in footmen's uniform, camein with the tray of food. How good it looked! Behind them followed another Scally-Wag carrying two pailsof steaming hot water, two scrubbing-brushes, and some soap."Your Majesty, is it safe for you to be alone with two prisoners as fierce as these?" asked one of theScally-Wags."Dear me, yes," said Peter. "I would turn them both into black-beetles if they so much as frowned at me!"The Scally-Wags bowed and went out. Mollie and Chinky giggled. "Do you like playing at being a King

Peter?" asked Mollie."I'm not playing at it, I am a King!" said Peter. "Come

5657and help yourselves to food, you two. I'll have some too. It looks good."It was good! But in the middle of the meal there came a loud knock at the door. Mollie and Chinky flungdown their sandwiches in a hurry, caught up scrubbing-brushes and went down on their hands and knees!They pretended to be hard at work scrubbing as three Scally-Wags entered with a message."Your Majesty!" they said, bowing low till their foreheads bumped against the floor. "His Highness, the

down the old wizard's hat on to his nose, and . . .""That's enough," said Peter in a fierce voice. "I punish my prisoners myself. Any interference from you,and you will scrub my floor too!""Pardon, pardon, Your Majesty!" cried the three Scally-Wags, and they backed away so fast that they fellover one another and rolled down the steps. The two children and Chinky laughed till their sides ached."Oh, Peter, you do make a good King!" said Mollie. "I do wish I could be a queen!""I say! What about this Prince of Goodness Knows Where," said Chinky. "If he is really coming to ex-change magic spells with you, Peter, you will find things rather difficult. Because, you see, you can't doany spells at all."The three stared at one another. Then Peter had an idea."Look here, Chinky, couldn't you change places with me tomorrow, and do spells instead of me?" heasked. "I'll say that I will receive the Prince alone - so that none of the Scally-Wags will know it's you andnot me."

Mollie and Chinky pretended to be hard at zcork scrubbing.Prince of Goodness Knows Where, is coming to see you tomorrow, to exchange magic spells. He will behere at eleven o'clock.""Oh," said Peter. "Thanks very much."The three Scally-Wags looked angrily at Mollie and Chinky scrubbing the floor, and said, "Shall we beatthese prisoners for you, Your Majesty? We hear that they have pushed three people into the river, andsmashed'ilCi'C S ulC Ci'OZlli, (yfiillkv, Saiu I ClCi\ nufidi/ig liltlithe golden cardboard cro:cu.

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"Good idea!" cried Chinky at once. "I don't know anything about the Prince, but perhaps I can manage tosatisfy him. That's just what we'll do - change places!"That night Mollie and Chinky slept in the kitchen of the palace. They were quite comfortable on a big sofathere, though the two kitchen cats would keep on lying down on top of them. They were nice, warm cats,but very fat and heavy. Peter slept on a golden bed in a big bedroom but he said he would much ratherhave slept with Molly and Chinky on the kitchen sofa with the cats. It was lonely in the golden bed.Peter told the soldiers that he meant to keep the two prisoners, Mollie and Chinky, as personal servants,

and therefore they were to bring him in his breakfast. You may be sure that the twTo of them piled thetrays up well with food of all kinds when they took the breakfast in! They laid it on a table, and then theyall ate a good meal, though Mollie and Chinky had to eat theirs standing behind Peter's chair, in casesome one came in suddenly.As the morning went on and the time came nearer for the Prince to come, the three began to feel ratherexcited. Peter gave orders that he was to be alone with the Prince."See that no one comes into the room whilst His Highness is here," he said to the soldiers. They salutedand went out smartly. Peter said it was fun to have two soldiers obeying him like that."Now here's the crown, Chinky," he said, handing him the golden cardboard crown. "And here's the redrug for a cloak. Get on to the wishing-chair throne. I guess the old wishing-chair never thought it was go-ing to be used as a throne!"Chinky put on the crown and sat down on the chair, pulling his cloak round him. Mollie and Peter stoodbehind him as if they were servants. Eleven o'clock struck.The door was thrown open and in came a tall and grandly dressed Prince. He swept off his feathered hatand bowed to Chinky. Chinky bowed back. The door shut.Chinky and the Prince began to talk."I was on my way through your kingdom," said the Prince, "and thought that I would come to exchangespells with you. I have here a spell that will change all the weeds in a garden into beautiful flowers. Wouldyou care to exchange that for a spell of your own?""No, thank you," said Chinky. "I have no weeds in my garden. It would be of no use to me.""Well," said the Prince, bringing out a bag embroidered with little golden suns, "here is another spell,really most useful. Put a bit of the shell in this bag into an egg-cup and say 'Toorisimmer-joo-joo,' and youwill see a beautiful new-laid egg appear. You can have it for your breakfast. There is enough shell in hereto make one hundred thousand eggs.""I can't bear eggs for breakfast," said Chinky. "Show me something else.""Well, what about this," said the Prince. He showed Chinky a strange little cap with three red berries on it."Put this cap on and you will know immediately who are your enemies and who are not, for the three redberries will wag about when enemies are before you.""I know who are my enemies and who are not without wearing any cap." said Chinky. "It's no good to mclYou

6061have no spells at all that are of any use, Prince!""Well, what spells have you?" asked the Prince rather impatiently.Chinky waved his hand in the air and a most delici-ous smell stole all around. It seemed like honeysuckleone minute - like roses the next - like carnations the next -then like sweet-peas - so that all the time youwere sniffing and smelling in delight. The Prince was most excited."That is a most unusual spell," he said. "I should like that to take home to my Princess. She would bepleased.""Well, I will give it to you if you will give me a spell that is useful to me," said Chinky. "Can you, for in-stance, make wings grow on this throne of mine?"The Prince looked at the wishing-chair and rubbed his hand down its legs."Yes," he said at once. "I can easily do that. If I am not mistaken that throne of yours was once a flyingchair! I will work the flying spell on it!"


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He took from his pocket a little blue tin. He took off the lid and dug his finger into the tin. Mollie saw thathis finger was covered with green and yellow ointment. The Prince smeared it down the legs of the chair.Then he stood back and chanted a curious magic song. The children and Chinky watched in excitement.They saw the familiar red buds come - and break out into feathers! The chair was growing its wings! Itspread them out - it flapped them and a draught came!"Quick!" shouted Chinky, jumping on to the top of the chair's back, "get in, Mollie and Peter. We can fly off,now!"

But the Prince gave a shout and snatched Chinky'scardboard crown from his head."You are not a real king!" he cried. "Your crown is only cardboard! Stop! Soldiers, soldiers! Come here atonce!"The big door burst open. In came the soldiers and stared in amazement at the chair holding the two chil-dren and the pixie."Home, chair, home!" yelled all three in the chair. "Fly out of the window!"The chair rose into the air, kicked out at the Prince, and knocked him over. Peter kicked out at the soldiersand knocked their helmets off! The chair flew out of the window and up into the air. Hurrah! They wereleaving the Land of the Scally-Wags - and a good thing too; for, as Peter said, they stood a good chanceof becoming as bad as Scally-Wags themselves if they stayed there very much longer - pushing peopleinto rivers, kicking them over, and banging their hats over their noses!"But I quite enjoyed being a bit of a Scally-Wag for once," said Chinky, as the chair flew in at the play-room."It was a good thing for me that we had been playing at Kings and Queens before the chair flew to theLand of Scally-Wags," said Peter. "It was jolly nice every one thinking I was a king, I can tell you!"

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XTHE LAST ADVENTURE OF ALLCHINKY was reading by himself in the playroom, curled up on the couch. He was waiting for Mollie andPeter to come and play with him. They were going to set out the railway lines all over the room, and runthe two engines round and round. It would be fun, Chinky/ /,,,./.,. -.. , . V, ., .. /-. . /,,..... II ... . /. . *. I,.yynitm\ mi,i ILULII/I^ c\ i/mitcif in tut jHU\nn'lti,curled up on rhc couch.He listened for the two children to come along. Soon he heard them. But they were not running merrilyalong as usual. They were coming slowly. Chinky wondered if anything had happened. Usually the chil-dren only walked slowly if they had been in disgrace, or were sadabout something. He ran to the door and looked out.Yes - it zvas Mollie and Peter - but they did look miserable. Chinky ran to them and took their hands."What's the matter?" he cried. "Have you been punished for something?""No," said Peter. "But Mother has just told us some bad news.""What?" cried Chinky."She has told us that Mollie and I are to go away to school," said Peter."But you go to school now," said Chinky, puzzled. "You like school.""Yes, but this is a new school - it is called a boarding-school," said Mollie. "We go there and live there -sleep there, have our meals there, and every-thing! We shan't be able to pop down to our playroom andplay with you, Chinky."The pixie stared at the two children in dismay. "But won't you ever come back again?" he asked. "Won'tyou ever see your mother and father even?"


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Peter laughed. "Oh, yes," he said. "We shall see them often. We shall come home for holidays and athalf-term too. So it isn't really so bad, I suppose. But it means we shan't be able to see you every day aswe do now, Chinky. You will have to wait many weeks before we come back again.""Oh dear!" said Chinky. "I do hate the idea of that! But perhaps it will be a good thing; because, you know,my mother is rather lonely living by herself in Fairyland. I ought to go and live with her a bit. Then I couldcome and live with you in the holidays, couldn't I?""Yes." said Peter. "But I say, Chinky what about the

6465wishing-chair? We can't leave it here by itself. It might fly away and not come back.""Or get stolen by someone," said Mollie."Yes, that's true," said Chinky. "Well, I think I'd better take it home with me, don't you? My mother willkeep it safely for us till we need it. We will see that it doesn't fly off.""That's a good idea," said Peter."When are you going to school?" asked Chinky."Tomorrow," said Mollie. "I am going to a girls' school and Peter is going to a boys' school. We shall missone another dreadfully. But I expect it will be fun to live with lots of other children.""Perhaps the wishing-chair will grow its wings once more before we have to say good-bye to it," said Pe-ter. "But anyway, we'll go off adventuring in the holidays when they come. And, oh, Chinky! I suppose youcouldn't come in the chair to school one night? It would be so exciting!""I'll see," said Chinky. "I don't want the other children to know about the wishing-chair - and they wouldsee it if I came.""Look!" said Mollie suddenly. "The chair is growing its wings! It must have heard what we were saying. Itwants to take us on a last adventure. Come on, you two, get in!"Chinky sat in his usual place, on the back of the chair. Mollie and Peter squeezed into the seat. The chairflapped its wings strongly and flew off into the air. Up it flew and up, and went due south."We haven't been this way before," said Chinky, peering down. "WTe pass over some strangelandshereabouts, I know. Chair, you are not to go down anywhere here. We might find it difficult to get away."The chair obeyed Chinky. It flew on, keeping quite high. The children leaned over the arms to see whatthey were passing. They saw that they must be flying over Giantland, for the people looked very big andtall. Some of the giants saw them and waved to them to come down. But the chair flew on. It came to yetanother land.This was a peculiar-looking place. The people seemed to have no legs, but rolled about here and there ontheir round, fat little bodies."That's the land of Rollabouts," said Chinky, pointing. "I once went there when I was little, and dear me,how I kept falling over those Rollabouts. They will keep rolling in between your feet!"Mollie laughed. She thought she would like to fly down and see the Rollabouts - but the chair kept on,flying strongly."Now what is this land, I wonder?" said Chinky, looking down. "Oh, my word! I know! It's where the Chat-terboxes live! Dreadful people, they are! They talk all the time, and simply won't let you get a word in!""I don't like chatterboxes," said Peter. "They are dull and tiresome, and just talk about themselves all thetime. Oh, I say, Chinky! The chair's going down!""Keep up, chair!" commanded Chinky. The chair swung itself upwards. But the Chatterboxes had seen itand they called to it."Hie, chair, chair, chair! Come on down here! We've lots to say to you, and we'd like to hear all your ad-ventures, and see your wonderful wings, and . . ."

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67"And, and, and!" said Chinky. "They'll go on talking for ever!"The Chatterboxes grew angry when they saw that the chair was not coming down. One of them ran in-doors and fetched a long rope. He rolled it round in rings on his arm. Then, taking careful aim, he threw itup at the chair, as a cowboy throws a lasso. The loop of rope fell right \ round the chair. The Chatterbox

gave a yell of delight. He pulled the rope tightly. Chinky and the children were caught neatly, for the ropewas round them, too!The Chatterbox began to haul on the rope, and although the chair flapped its wings as hard as it couldand tried to fly upwards, there was no help for it - it had to come down!Bump! It was down on the ground.The Chatterboxes undid the rone, talking all trie n. ^-i. ,. ../,. A- ,,,, .. '- 'b i nc KJHUIID0(i.\ Dcgdll w namtime. "You should have ,, t/lc ropc_come down when we called you! You see, you had to come down anyhow! Where were you going to?Where did you come from? What are your names?""My name is Chinky," began the pixie - but the Chatterboxes did not want to listen to anything. They justwent on talking, all of them at once."They sound like the monkey-house at the Zoo!" said Peter in despair."LISTEN, CHATTER-BOXES! LET US GO ON OUR JOURNEY!"Peter shouted as loudly as he could - but the Chatterboxes took no notice. They pulled the two childrenand Chinky along to a little cottage, saying, "You must come and have some lemonade! You must havesome biscuits!""Oh, well," said Peter to Mollie. "I can always do with lemonade and biscuits. I don't like leaving the chairbehind, though. I say, Chatterboxes, can we bring the chair with us?""Oh yes, we will send some one back to fetch it," said the little folk. "You go, Lollipop! You go, Twisty! Yougo, Knobbly!"Lollipop, Twisty, and Knobbly all began to tell why they didn't want to go - and in the end nobody went atall. They were most annoying little people, all talk and nothing else!They sat down in the little kitchen, and went on talking, whilst the children and Chinky waited patiently forthe lemonade and biscuits. But every one wanted to talk, and no one fetched anything to eat or drink."You know, when we saw your chair wc thought 'What a wonderful thing!' And we did want to see it andsee you

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The hedgehog spread out his prickles and pricked the (Ihdttcrbox.too, so we called you, but you wouldn't come down, and then we had to lasso you, and you came down,and what nice people you are, and we are so pleased to have you here, and to give you lemonade andbiscuits, and to be your friends, and listen to all you have to tell us of your wonderful adventures, and . . .""Oh, do be quiet for a minute," said Mollie, putting her hands over her ears. "You go on and on and on.""And what about some lemonade and biscuits," said Chinky."Oh yes, lemonade and biscuits, of course you shall have some, and we will all have some, too!" cried theChatterboxes. "How nice it is to have you here eating and drinking with us, and telling us all your adven-tures, and sharing your wonderful journeys, and . . .""Well, we haven't told you ANYTHING SO far!" said Peter, getting annoyed. "I say, Chinky, let's get backto our chair. I'm tired of waiting here for lemonade and biscuits that don't come!"They pushed aside the silly little Chatterboxes and went to get their chair - but it was gone! They saw ithigh in the sky, a little black speck, flying away to the north!


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"Bother!" said Chinky crossly. "Now we've got to go back by train! Do get away, Chatterboxes, and don'ttalk so loudly in my ears all the time. You make me quite deaf!""Hurry!" called Mollie. "There's a train over there in that station!" The three ran fast, with the stupid Chat-terboxes chattering hard behind them all the time, saying something about lemonade and biscuits!They jumped into the train, and only just in time too!It was a funny train - a wooden one, with open trucks. In Chinky's carriage there was a hedgehog, a Chat-

terbox, and a mole who was fast asleep.The Chatterbox was talking as usual. The hedgehog spread out his prickles and pricked him. The Chat-terbox looked at him angrily."Every time you open your mouth I shall prick you," said the hedgehog in a hoarse, cross voice. TheChatterbox glared at him, but didn't dare to say another word."It's a pity that a hedgehog doesn't travel with every Chatterbox," whispered Mollie to Chinky. The trainclattered on, and stopped at funny stations. The Chatterbox waited until the hedgehog got out and thenbegan rattling on about all sorts of things, never stopping for a moment. The mole snored loudly. Chinky,Mollie, and Peter turned their backs on the silly Chatterbox and

7071pretended not to listen. How glad they were to get to their own station and jump out."Well, I hope / shall never be a chatterbox!" said Mollie."We won't let you be!" said Peter. "Come on - let's go home and see if the wishing-chair is safely back."They ran through the wood and down the lane and into their garden. But do you know, the wishing-chairwas not there! It hadn't come back!"Oh, do you suppose it has gone away for ever?" cried Mollie. "Do you think it heard what we were sayingand ran away?""It's funny," said Chinky, puzzled. "I shouldn't have thought it would leave us like that! Oh dear - andyou're going away to school tomorrow! It might have let you say good-bye to it!"Just then a tiny fairy came knocking at the playroom door with a note for Chinky. He opened it and read it-and his face broke into smiles. "Just listen to this!" he cried. "It's from my mother. She says: 'Dear Chinky,this is just to let you know that the wishing-chair arrived here by itself today. I don't know why. - Your lov-ing Mother.' ""Oh, the clever old chair!" said Peter. "It heard us say that you would live with your mother and keep itthere -so it has gone there itself! Well, you must say good-bye to it for us, Chinky - and we'll hope to sec itwhen we come home for half-term."A bell rang at the top of the garden. Mollie ran to Chinky and hugged him. "That's the bell to tell us to goin," she said. "We'd better say good-bye now, dear, dear Chinky, in case we can't get down to theplayroomtomorrow before we go. Good-bye and don't forget us!" They all hugged one another. Chinky waved tothemas they ran up the garden. He felt rather sad - but nevermind, there would be more adventures when theholidays came! He would wait for those.Chinky caught the bus to Fairyland and went to Mrs.Twinkle, his mother! The children packed their lastthings. Everything was ready for school. They couldn'thelp feeling rather excited.The playroom was empty. The wishing-chair wasgone. Ah - but wait till the holidays! What fineadventures they would all have then!


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7273XIHOME FOR HALF-TERM

A LITTLE pixie peeped anxiously into the window of a small playroom built at the bottom of a garden. Arobin flew down beside him and sang a little song."What's the matter, Chinky?What do you want? What are you looking for?""I'm looking for Mollie and Peter," said Chinky. "I've got the wishmg-chair hidden under a bush just nearhere, and I'm waiting for the children to come home, so that I can get into this playroom of theirs a

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